Electronic apparatus having battery receptacle at the rear of keyboard

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment of the invention, an electronic apparatus comprises a housing including a keyboard mount portion. A keyboard is mounted on the keyboard mount portion. The keyboard has a plurality of fixing pieces. The fixing pieces are protruded at the rear of the keyboard mount portion, and are removably fixed to the housing. A receptacle on which a module is removably mounted is provided in the housing. The receptacle is located between the fixing pieces at the rear of the keyboard mount portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-396021, filed Nov. 26, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the invention relate to an electronic apparatus having, for example, a computer module such as a battery pack allocated at the rear of a keyboard.

2. Description of the Related Art

For example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-175186 (reference 1) discloses an electronic apparatus such as a portable computer comprising a keyboard at the top surface of a housing. The keyboard has a keyboard frame and a plurality of keys allocated at the top surface of the keyboard frame. The keyboard frame is removably supported at a keyboard mount portion formed on the top surface of the housing. The keyboard mount portion is formed as a recessed area that opens on the top surface of the housing, and its size corresponds to the keyboard frame.

At the front edge, the keyboard frame removably hangs at the front end part of the keyboard mount portion. The rear edge of the keyboard frame is held at the rear end part of the keyboard mount portion via a keyboard holder made of a synthetic resin.

The keyboard holder is formed in an elongated rod shape that extends along the rear edge of the keyboard frame. The keyboard holder has a plurality of engagement claws. The engagement claws are removably engaged at the rear end part of the keyboard mount portion. By this engagement, the keyboard holder is held in the housing, and the rear edge of the keyboard frame is sandwiched between the keyboard holder and the keyboard mount portion.

On the other hand, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2001-102018 (reference 2) discloses an electronic apparatus such as a portable computer having a battery pack mounted at the rear end part of a housing having a keyboard. The housing of this electronic apparatus comprises a battery receptacle that removably supports the battery pack. The battery receptacle is provided between a pair of hinges that rotatably support a display unit, and is located at the rear of a keyboard mount portion.

In view of these references, if a keyboard holder is employed to fix that keyboard, it must be interposed between the keyboard mount portion and the battery receptacle. As a result, the gap between the keyboard mount portion and the battery receptacle unavoidably increases. An increase in the dimensional depth of the housing poses an obstacle in the achievement of compactness of the electronic apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of a portable computer according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary plan view of the portable computer according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary perspective view of the portable computer showing a positional relationship between a battery receptacle of a housing and a hinge bracket for rotatably supporting a display unit according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view showing a positional relationship between a fixing piece at the left side of a keyboard and a receiving portion at the left side of the housing according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary perspective view showing a positional relationship between a fixing piece at the right side of the keyboard and a receiving portion at the right side of the housing according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line F6-F6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line F7-F7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line F8-F8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary perspective view of a cover for covering the receiving portion of the housing according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary perspective view when the cover for covering the receiving portion of the housing is seen from the bottom side according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary perspective view of the portable computer showing the shape of the battery receptacle according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary plan view of the portable computer showing a state in which a battery pack is inserted into the battery receptacle of the housing according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary perspective view of the battery pack for use according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is an exemplary perspective view of a portable computer according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an exemplary sectional view of the portable computer showing a state in which a battery pack is mounted on a battery receptacle of a housing according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is an exemplary plan view of a portable computer according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line F17-F17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an exemplary plan view of a portable computer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line L19-L19 of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13.

FIG. 1 discloses a portable computer 1 as an electronic apparatus. The portable computer 1 comprises a computer main unit 2 and a display unit 3. The computer main unit 2 has a metallic housing 4. The housing 4 is formed in a flat box shape having a bottom wall 4 a, a top wall 4 b, left and right side walls 4 c, a front wall 4 d, and a rear wall 4 e.

Recess portions 5 a and 5 b are formed at the corner defined by the side wall 4 c and rear wall 4 e of the housing 4. The recess portions 5 a and 5 b are positioned at the rear end of the housing 4, and are spaced from each other in the widthwise direction of the housing 4.

The display unit 3 comprises a display housing 7 and a liquid crystal display panel 8. The display housing 7 is formed in a flat box shape whose size is equal to that of the housing 4, and has a pair of leg portions 9 a and 9 b at one end part of the display panel 7. The leg portions 9 a and 9 b are spaced from each other in the widthwise direction of the display housing 7, and enter the recess portions 5 a and 5 b of the housing 4.

The liquid crystal display panel 8 is housed in the display housing 7. The liquid crystal display panel 8 has a screen 8 a that displays an image. The screen 8 a is exposed outwardly of the display housing 7 through an opening 10 formed at the front surface of the display housing 7.

As shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 3 is supported in the housing 4 via a pair of hinges 11. Each of the hinges 11 has a hinge shaft 12 overhanging between each leg portions 9 a and 9 b and the housing 4. The hinge shaft 12 is horizontally allocated along the widthwise direction of the housing 4. At one end, the hinge shaft 12 is rotatably supported in the housing 4 via a bracket 13. At the other end, the hinge shaft 12 is fixed to the display housing 7 via another bracket (not shown).

The display unit 3 is rotatable between a closed position and an open position around the hinge shaft 12 At the closed position, the display unit 3 lies on the housing 4 so as to cover the computer main unit 2 from above. At the open position, the display unit 3 is erected relevant to the computer main unit 2 so as to expose the top wall 4 b of the housing 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 4 comprises a keyboard mount portion 15 and a battery receptacle 16. The keyboard mount portion 15 is formed in a rectangular recess portion that opens on the top surface of the top wall 4 b. This keyboard mount portion supports a keyboard 17. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the keyboard 17 has a keyboard frame 18 and a plurality of keys 19. The keyboard frame 18 is provided as a metal plate sized to engage with the keyboard mount portion 15. The keyboard frame 18 overlaps on a bottom face 15 a of the keyboard mount portion 15. The keys 19 are supported on the top surface of the keyboard frame 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, the keyboard frame 18 has a front edge portion 20 a and a rear edge portion 20 b extending in the widthwise direction of the housing 4. The front edge portion 20 a of the keyboard frame 18 removably hangs on the front end part of the keyboard mount portion 15. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the keyboard frame 18 has a pair of fasteners (referred to as “fixing pieces” 21 a and 21 b). The fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b protrude from the left end part and right end part of the rear edge portion 20 b of the keyboard frame 18 toward the rear of the keyboard 17, each of which has a through hole 22.

A pair of receiving portions 24 a and 24 b is formed on the top wall 4 b of the housing 4. The receiving portions 24 a and 24 b are provided as recesses to receive the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard 17. Receiving portions 24 a and 24 b are located between recess portions 5 a and 5 b of the housing 4 and the keyboard mount portion 15. The receiving portion 24 a and 24 b are spaced from each other in the widthwise direction of the housing 4, and open respectively at the left end and right end of the rear portion of the keyboard mount portion 15. Further, each receiving portion 24 a and 24 b has a bottom face 25. The bottom face 25 is continuous on a bottom face 15 a of the keyboard mount portion 15. A boss portion 27 having a screw hole 26 and a pair of engagement holes 28 are formed on the bottom face 25 (see FIG. 8).

In a state in which the keyboard frame 18 is mounted on the keyboard mount portion 15, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b enter the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b, respectively, and overlap on the top surface of the boss portion 27. A screw 29 is inserted from above into the through hole 22 of each of the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b. The screw 29 is mounted into the screw hole 26 of the boss portion 27. By this screw mounting, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard frame 18 are fixed to the housing 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, a boss portion 30 is formed on the bottom face of the keyboard frame 18. The boss portion 30 is positioned between the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b, and is exposed to the inside of the housing 4. Another screw 31 is overhung between the boss portion 30 and the bottom wall 4 a of the housing 4. The screw 31 is mounted into the boss portion 30 through the bottom wall 4 a of the housing 4. By this screw mounting, a relief at the center of the keyboard 17 relevant to the keyboard mount portion 15 is suppressed. From this fact, the keyboard 17 is fixed to the housing 4 at two locations of the rear edge portion 20 b of the keyboard frame 18 and at one location of the center.

A cover 33 made of a synthetic resin is engaged into each of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b of the housing 4. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the cover 33 comprises: a table top 34 that closes an opening end of each of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b; a support wall 35 that extends downwardly from the front end portion of the table top 34; and a pair of engagement claws 36 that protrude downwardly from the table top 34.

When the cover 33 is engaged with each of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b, the engagement claws 36 each hang on the engagement holes 28 of the bottom face 25 of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b respectively, and hold the cover 33 on the housing 4. In this manner, the top surface of the table top 34 of the cover 33 is located on a surface which is identical to the top surface of the top wall 4 b of the housing 4.

The support wall 35 of the cover 33 is located immediately preceding the keys 19 on the last column of the keyboard 17, and its lower end comes into contact with the top surface of the rear end portion 20 b of the keyboard frame 18. Thus, the support wall 35 of the cover 33 sandwiches the rear edge portion 20 b of the keyboard frame 18 between the support wall 35 and the bottom surface 15 a of the keyboard mount portion 15. Therefore, the cover 33 is compatible with a function of holding the keyboard 17 on the keyboard mount portion 15.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the battery receptacle 16 is a recessed portion formed by continuous openings in the bottom wall 4 a, the top wall 4 b, and the rear wall 4 e of the housing 4. The battery receptacle 16 has left and right guide walls 41 a and 41 b and a front end wall 42. The battery receptacle 16 extends in the widthwise direction of the housing 4 at the rear of the keyboard mount portion 15, and is located between the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b for fixing the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard 17.

In other words, the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b are formed in regions of the top wall 4 b of the housing 4 which are spaced at the left side and right side of the battery receptacle 16. Thus, a fixing portion, being a combination of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b engaged with their corresponding fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b, are distributed in the widthwise direction of the housing 4. The battery receptacle 16 is situated between these fixing portions.

Each of the guide walls 41 a and 41 b of the battery receptacle 16 has a guide rail 43. The guide rail 43 is exposed to the battery receptacle 16, and extends horizontally along the depth direction of the housing 4. As shown in FIG. 6, the front end wall 42 of the battery receptacle 16 is located downwardly of the rear portion of the keyboard mount portion 15 toward an interior of the housing 4, and thus, this front end wall 42 is located below the last column of keys 19. As a result, the keyboard mount portion 15 and the battery receptacle 16 overlap each other in the depth direction of the housing 4.

A pair of latches 44 a and 44 b and a connector receptacle 45 are allocated on the front end wall 42 of the battery receptacle 16. The latches 44 a and 44 b are located at the left end part and right end part of the front end wall 42, and are exposed to the battery receptacle 16. The latches 44 a and 44 b can slide between a locked position and an unlocked position, and are held at the locked position via a spring (not shown). The connector receptacle 45 is exposed to the battery receptacle 16 between the latches 44 a and 44 b.

An eject lever 46 and a lock lever 47 are allocated at the bottom wall 4 a of the housing 4. The eject lever 46 is operated by a fingertip when the latches 44 a and 44 b are slid from the locked position to the unlocked position. The lock lever 47 is provided to hold the eject lever 46 at the locked position. These levers 46, 47 are adjacent to the battery receptacle 16.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, the battery receptacle 16 removably supports a battery pack 50, which serves as a module. The battery pack 50 is provided as a power source when the portable computer 1 is used in location where a commercially available alternating current power source cannot be obtained. The battery pack 50 comprises: a plurality of batteries 51 which are incorporated in the pack; and a case 52 made of a synthetic resin, the case housing these batteries 51.

The case 52 is formed in an elongated hollow box shaped for engagement with the battery receptacle 16. The case 52 comprises left and right side surfaces 52 a and 52 b which face the guide walls 41 a and 41 b of the battery receptacle 16, respectively; and a top end surface 52 c which faces the front end wall 42 of the battery receptacle 16. The case 52 is inserted into the battery receptacle 16 from the rear of the housing 4. By this insertion, the guide rails 43 slidably enters guide grooves 53 formed on the side surfaces 52 a and 52 b of the case 52. Therefore, the insertion direction of the case 52 is guided, and the case 52 is held at the battery receptacle 16.

As shown in FIGS. 11-13, a pair of lock claws 54 a and 54 b and a battery connector 55 are allocated on a top end surface 52 c of the case 52. The lock claws 54 a and 54 b hang on the latches 44 a and 44 b when the case 52 is mounted at a predetermined position of the battery receptacle 16. In this manner, the battery pack 50 is locked with the battery receptacle 16. The battery connector 55 is located between the lock claws 54 a and 54 b, and is electrically connected to the connector receptacle 45 when the lock claws 54 a and 54 b hang on the latches 44 a and 44 b.

Further, the case 52 has a bottom surface 56 a, a top surface 56 b, and a rear surface 56 c. Each of these surfaces 56 a to 56 c is exposed outwardly of the battery receptacle 16 when the battery pack 50 is mounted on the battery receptacle 16. In addition, these surfaces configure a part of the exterior of the housing 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, in a state in which the battery pack 50 is mounted on the battery receptacle 16, the front end portion of the battery pack 50 enters below the rear end portion 20 b of the keyboard panel 18. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6, 11 and 13, the top end surface 52 c of the case 52, a connection portion between the connector receptacle 45 and the battery connector 55 and engagement portions between the latches 44 a and 44 b and the lock claws 54 a and 54 b are covered below the rear end portion 20 b of the keyboard panel 18.

Therefore, the keyboard 17 and the battery pack 50 are supported in the housing 4 in a state in which they have overlapped each other in the depth direction of the housing 4. In addition, the front end of the top surface 56 b of the battery pack 50 is located immediately following the keys 19 on the last column of the keyboard 17.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention as such, the battery receptacle 16 of the housing 4 is located between the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b affixing the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard 17. Thus, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b do not enter between the keyboard mount portion 15 and the battery receptacle 16, and the battery receptacle 16 can be made as close to the keyboard mount portion 15 as possible.

Moreover, the front end of the battery pack 50 is covered beneath the rear edge portion 20 b of the keyboard frame 18 so that the battery pack 50 and the keyboard 17 can be overlapped on each other in the depth direction of the housing 4.

As a result, a gap between the battery receptacle 16 and the keyboard mount portion 15 is reduced, and the dimensional depth of the housing 4 can be reduced, making it possible to achieve the compactness of the portable computer 1.

Further, the battery receptacle 16 has a shape that allows the bottom surface 56 a, top surface 56 b, and rear surface 56 c of the case 52 of the battery pack 50 to be exposed and uncovered by the housing 4. Thus, the bottom wall 4 a and top wall 4 b of the housing 4 do not overlap with the battery pack 50, and the housing 4 can be formed to be thin and compact in comparison with a case in which the battery pack 50 is stored at the inside of the housing 4.

In the above-described first embodiment, although the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard frame 18 have been affixed to the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b of the housing 4 via the screws 29, the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, with an engagement force generated when the cover 33 is engaged with the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b may be sandwiched between the support wall 35 of this cover 33 and the bottom surface 25 of each of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b. With this configuration, the screws 29 are eliminated. In addition, with a work of merely mounting and removing the cover 33, the keyboard 17 can be locked with or unlocked from the keyboard mount portion 15.

Further, the battery receptacle is formed in a shape opening on only the rear wall of the housing so that the battery pack may be stored at the inside of the housing.

The present invention is not specifically limited to the above-described first embodiment. FIGS. 14 and 15 each show a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, receiving portions 24 a and 24 b of a housing 4 are formed in location seen at the upper end part of a battery receptacle 16. Each of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b is formed in a grooved shape that extends in the depth direction of the housing 4. The front end of each receiving portion 24 a and 24 b opens at the rear end part of a keyboard mount portion 15, and the rear end opens at the corner part defined by the top wall 4 b and a rear wall 4 e. Thus, an allocation gap is situated between the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b and each of the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b is affixed to a boss portion 27 of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b.

A case 52 of a battery pack 50 has cover portions 61 a and 61 b, which laterally overhang the left end part and right end part of a top surface 56 of the case, respectively. The cover portions 61 a and 6 b cover the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b and the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b from above when the battery pack 50 is mounted at a predetermined position of the battery receptacle 16. In addition, these cover portions are designed to be located on a surface substantially identical to the top wall 4 b of the housing 4.

A support wall 62, extending obliquely downward, is formed at the front end of each of the cover portions 61 a and 61 b. The support wall 62 comes into contact with a rear edge portion 20 b of a keyboard frame 18 from above when the battery pack 50 is mounted at a predetermined position in the battery receptacle 16. This support wall 62 sandwiches this rear edge portion 20 b between the support wall 62 and the keyboard mount portion 15.

In such a configuration, the battery pack 50 is inserted into the battery receptacle 16 from the rear of the housing 4, namely between each of the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b. The boss portion 27 is covered from above with the cover portions 61 a and 61 b of the case 52.

From this fact, in a state in which the battery pack 50 is mounted on the battery receptacle 16, the fixing portions, namely the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b and their corresponding receiving portions 24 a and 24 b (and optionally boss portion 27) cannot be seen from the outside. These fixing portions are exposed to the top wall 4 b of the housing 4 when the battery pack 50 is removed from the battery receptacle 16. Therefore, exclusive covers for covering the fixing portions associated with the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b and their respective boss portion 27 are eliminated, and the number of parts can be reduced.

In addition, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b are fixed to the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b by fastening elements (e.g., screws 29). Thus, even in a state in which the battery pack 50 is removed from the battery receptacle 16, the keyboard 17 is not unlocked.

Further, the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b for affixing the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard 17 are located at the left side and right side of the battery receptacle 16. Thus, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b are not interposed between the keyboard mount portion 15 and the battery receptacle 16. Therefore, a gap between the battery receptacle 16 and the keyboard mount portion 15 can be reduced to the minimum, and the dimensional depth of the housing 4 can be reduced.

Moreover, the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b formed on the top wall 4 b of the housing 4 approach the battery receptacle 16, and an allocation gap between these receiving portion 24 a and 24 b is reduced. Thus, among the top wall 4 b, wide free spaces can be provided at the left side and right side of the receiving portions 24 a and 24 b, and these free spaces can allocate an icon or a control knob, for example.

FIGS. 16 and 17 each disclose a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the positions of the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard frame 18 and in the shape of the case 52 of the battery pack 50. The other constituent elements of the portable computer 1 are similar to those according to the first embodiment of the invention. Thus, in the third embodiment of the invention, similar constituent elements in the first embodiment are designated by similar reference numerals. A duplicate description is omitted here.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a battery receptacle 16 opens the rear end of a keyboard mount portion 15. The fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard frame 18 are protruded from a rear end portion 20 b of the keyboard frame 18 to the battery receptacle 16. These fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b are adjacent to left and right guide walls 41 a and 41 b of the battery receptacle 16.

A front end wall 42 of the battery receptacle 16 has a pair of arm portions 71 (only one of them is shown) overhanging at the battery receptacle 16 along the guide walls 41 a and 41 b. A boss portion 73 having a screw hole 72 is formed at each of the tip end parts of the arm portions 71, and the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b are overlapped on the top surface of the boss portion 73. A screw 74 is inserted from above into a through hole 22 of the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b. The screw 74 is attached to the screw hole 72. By this attachment, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard frame 18 are fixed to the boss portions 73. Thus, two locations at the rear end part of the keyboard 17 are fixed to the housing 4 at the inside of the battery receptacle 16.

The case 52 of the battery pack 50 has: a housing chamber 76 for housing batteries 51; and a pair of hollow cover portions 77. The cover portions 77 are provided to cover the fixing portions associated with the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b and their respective boss portions 73. The cover portions 77 are located at the left end part and right end part of the housing chamber 76, and open on a top end surface 52 c of the case 52.

As shown in FIG. 17, the case 52 has a support wall 78, which extends obliquely downward at the front end of a top surface 56 b thereof. The support wall 78 extends along the widthwise direction of the case 52, and overhangs between the front end parts of the cover portions 77. The support wall 78 upwardly comes into contact with a rear edge portion 20 b of the keyboard frame 18 when the battery pack 50 is mounted at a predetermined position of the battery receptacle 16. This support wall 78 sandwiches the rear end portion 20 b between the support wall 78 and the keyboard mount portion 15.

With such a configuration, when the battery pack 50 is inserted into the battery receptacle 16 from the rear of the housing 4, the fixing portions associated with each of the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b (e.g., fixing piece 21 b as shown) and their boss portion 73 are positioned inside of the cover portion 77 of the case 52. Then, the fixing portions are covered with this cover portion 77.

From this fact, in a state in which the battery pack 50 is mounted on the battery receptacle 16, the fixing portions associated with fixing piece 21 a and 21 b and their corresponding receiving portions 24 a and 24 b (and optionally with the boss portion 73) cannot be seen from the outside. These fixing portions are exposed to this battery receptacle 16 when the battery pack 50 is removed from the battery receptacle 16. Therefore, an executive cover for covering the fixing portions may be eliminated, reducing the number of parts used.

Further, the fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b of the keyboard 17 are fixed to the boss portion 73 of the housing 4 at the inside of the battery receptacle 16. Thus, these fixing pieces 21 a and 21 b do not enter between the keyboard mount portion 15 and the battery receptacle 16. Therefore, a gap between the battery receptacle 16 and the keyboard mount portion 15 can be reduced to the minimum, and the dimensional depth of the housing 4 can be reduced.

FIGS. 18 and 19 each disclose a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in configuration for affixing the rear end part of the keyboard 17 to the housing 4. The other constituent elements of the portable computer 1 are similar to those according to the first embodiment of the invention. Thus, in the fourth embodiment of the invention, similar constituent elements in the first embodiment are designated by similar reference numerals. A duplicate description is omitted here.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, a keyboard frame 18 of the keyboard 17 has a pair of fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b. The fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b are bent downwardly at a right angle from the left end part and right end part of the rear edge portion 20 b of the keyboard frame 18. The fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b are extruded to the front end of a battery receptacle 16 via through holes 82 opening on a bottom surface 15 a of a keyboard mount portion 15. Each of these fixing pieces has a through hole 83 at each of their protrusion end parts.

A front end wall 42 of the battery receptacle 16 has a pair of boss portions 85 each having a screw hole 84. The boss portions 85 are protruded from the left end part and right end part of the front end wall 42 to the battery receptacle 16, and the fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b are overlapped at the protrusion ends of the boss portions 85.

Screws 86 are inserted from the rear side into the through hole 83 of the fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b. The screw 86 is mounted into the screw hole 84 of the boss portion 85. By this screw mounting, the fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b of the keyboard frame 18 are fixed to the boss portions 85. Thus, two locations at the rear end part of the keyboard 17 are fixed to the housing 4 at the inside of the battery receptacle 16.

A case 52 of a battery pack 50 has recess portions 88 (only one of them is shown) at the left end part and right end part of the front end thereof. The recess portions 88 each are formed at the positions corresponding to the boss portions 85 of the battery receptacle 16. Thus, when the battery pack 50 is mounted at a predetermined position of the battery receptacle 16, the head of the screw 86, the fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b, and the boss portion 85 each are designed to enter the inside of the recess portion 88. Therefore, fixing portions being the fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b and their respective boss portions 85 are covered with the case 52 of the battery pack 50.

With such a configuration, in a state in which the battery pack 50 is mounted on the battery receptacle 16, the fixing portions associated with the fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b and their boss portions 85 cannot be seen from the outside. These fixing portions are exposed to the front end of this battery receptacle 16 when the battery pack 50 is removed from the battery receptacle 16. Therefore, covers for covering the fixing portions are eliminated, and thus, the number of parts can be reduced.

Further, the fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b of the keyboard 17 are bent downwardly at a right angle from the rear edge part 20 b to be located at the inside of the battery receptacle 16. The fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b are interposed between a front end wall 42 of the battery receptacle 16 and the front end of the battery pack 50. Thus, the fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b of the keyboard 17 are not interposed between the keyboard mount portion 15 and the battery receptacle 16. Therefore, a gap between the battery receptacle 16 and the keyboard mount portion 15 can be reduced to the minimum, and the dimensional depth of the housing 4 can be reduced.

In addition, the fixing pieces 81 a and 81 b of the keyboard 17 are positioned at the inside of the battery receptacle 16 so that wide free spaces can be provided at the left side and right side of the battery receptacle 16 among the top wall 4 b of the housing 4. Thus, an icon or a control knob can be allocated in a free space.

In the present invention, a module mounted in a housing is not specifically limited to a battery pack, and other pack shaped devices may be employed.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. An electronic apparatus comprising: a housing including a keyboard mount portion and a receptacle adapted for receiving a module; and a keyboard placed within the keyboard mount portion, the keyboard comprises a plurality of fasteners removably affixed to the housing proximate to one side of the keyboard mount portion, wherein the receptacle being positioned between the plurality of fasteners.
 2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fasteners of the keyboard are spaced from each other in a widthwise direction of the housing.
 3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of receiving portions positioned proximate to the one side of the keyboard mount portion and to which the plurality of fasteners are affixed.
 4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of boss portions each aligned with apertures of a fastener of the plurality of fasteners and a receiving portion of the plurality of receiving portions to receive a fastening element.
 5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a cover removably engaged with at least one of the plurality of receiving portions of the housing, and at this engagement, the keyboard is interposed between the cover and the keyboard mount portion.
 6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a recessed portion formed by continuous openings at a bottom wall, a top wall and a rear wall of the housing, and a front end of the receptacle is located below the keyboard mount portion.
 7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the module is a battery pack.
 8. An electronic apparatus comprising: a housing including a keyboard mount portion formed on a top surface of the housing, the keyboard mount portion including a front portion and a rear portion; a receptacle provided in the housing, the receptacle being located proximate to the rear of the keyboard mount portion; a keyboard including a plurality of fasteners protruding from the rear portion of the keyboard mount portion adjacent to the receptacle when mounted at the keyboard mount portion, the keyboard being removably affixed to the top surface of the housing; and a module removably coupled to the receptacle of the housing.
 9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the module includes a cover portion positioned above the plurality of fasteners and the housing when the module is coupled to the receptacle.
 10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a front end of the receptacle is located downwardly from the keyboard mount portion.
 11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the module includes a case including a battery pack housed by the cover portion.
 12. An electronic apparatus comprising: a housing including a keyboard mount portion and a receptacle, the receptacle being located at a rear of the keyboard mount portion; a keyboard mounted on the keyboard mount portion, the keyboard including a plurality of fasteners protruding toward the receptacle and being removably affixed to the housing; and a module removably coupled to the receptacle of the housing, the module including a cover portion which covers the plurality of fasteners when the module is coupled to the receptacle.
 13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the module includes a case housing a battery pack, the case is removably mounted on the receptacle, and the cover portion is provided in the case.
 14. The electronic apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a front end of the receptacle is located below the keyboard mount portion of the housing.
 15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of fasteners of the keyboard each are affixed to the housing via a screw.
 16. An electronic apparatus comprising: a housing including a keyboard mount portion; a receptacle provided in the housing, the receptacle being a recessed portion formed at the rear wall of the housing and continuing toward a rear of the keyboard mount portion of the housing; a module removably mounted on the receptacle; and a keyboard provided at the keyboard mount portion, the keyboard including a plurality of fasteners interposed between the receptacle and the module, the plurality of fasteners being removably affixed to the housing and being covered with the module.
 17. The electronic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a front end of the receptacle is located below the keyboard mount portion, and a front end of the module is situated below the keyboard.
 18. The electronic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of fasteners of the keyboard are affixed to the housing via a screw.
 19. The electronic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of receiving portions positioned proximate to the rear of the keyboard mount portion and to which the plurality of fasteners are affixed.
 20. The electronic apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the receptacle is interposed between the plurality of receiving portions along a widthwise direction of the housing. 